Shape-morphing structures

C-shells: Deployable Gridshells with Curved Beams

We introduce a computational pipeline for simulating and designing C-shells, deployable structures composed of beams with *curved* planar rest shapes.

Computational Exploration of Multistable Elastic Knots

We present an algorithmic approach to discover, study, and design multistable elastic knots, physical realizations of closed curves embedded in 3-space.

Umbrella Meshes: Elastic Mechanisms for Freeform Shape Deployment

We present a computational inverse design framework for a new class of volumetric deployable structures that have compact rest states and deploy into bending-active 3D target surfaces. *Umbrella meshes* consist of elastic beams, rigid plates, and …

Inflatables

Simulation and inverse design for surface-based inflatables.

Computational Inverse Design of Surface-based Inflatables

Fusing two sheets along parallel curves creates pockets that inflate into tubes and deform into a curved 3D shape; we optimize the fusing curve network to reproduce an input geometry.

Weaving with Curved Ribbons

We optimize the shapes of *curved* planar laser-cut ribbons that weave into faithful approximations of smooth free-form geometries.

Bistable Auxetic Surface Structures

We optimize patterns that, when cut into a flat rubber sheet, produce *bistable* auxetic metamaterials encoding curved target geometries.

X-Shell Pavilion: A Deployable Elastic Rod Structure

Our first-prize-winning pavilion for the IASS 2019 Pavilion Competition.

X-Shells: A New Class of Deployable Beam Structures

X-Shells are a new class of deployable structures formed by an ensemble of elastic beams coupled by rotational joints.

Rapid Deployment of Curved Surfaces via Programmable Auxetics

We program curved surfaces into flat sheets by optimizing a strain-limited auxetic metamaterial.